Is the RYCO a hope for the region?

Three years ago in a conference in Macedonia, I was informed about this draft idea by an official from Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Serbia. The main plan was to accelerate European spirit, integration etc., but a first step would be to do joint work and get past the emergence of destabilization in the region. From that time to 2016, I was waiting for it to be launched which is the most significant step for youth, taken during the Berlin process. Normalization process among the states adjusted itself to youth who are the future hope for the Balkans.

RYCO, the Regional Youth Cooperation Office has been launched on July 4^th, 2016 in Paris where the Western Balkan Summit was hosted, gathering the Balkan leaders as well as European leaders. Berlin Process enabled the birth of the RYCO which is the most prominent initiative focusing only on youth. Heads of Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia, and Montenegro took part in this regional initiative with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former French President François Hollande. The establishment process of it is inspired by Franco-German Youth Office which is the most successful example in Europe. RYCO was discussed and then signed during the summit in order to promote cooperation between youth in the Balkans. The primary goals of it are to provide an equitable environment to youth and make a strong contribution to meetings and projects that will help engage in regional dialogue and understanding of each other.

In the Balkans, there are many problems for youth such as unemployment which remains on the list of top priorities of most difficult challenges for states that young people face in everyday life, as well as low level of youth involvement in politics, and generally in the decision making process, and these cause brain drains. Because of those problems, RYCO is an opportunity for youth, at first to negotiate regional issues in order to have more developed countries. Secondly, youth will have the chance to develop joint projects together in order to enhance a new social understanding that will help to remove prejudices. RYCO must be an inclusive institute, like an umbrella organization to cover every youth organization in the region, which is officially supported by the EU.

Expectations are really high for RYCO though it is not fully operational and still in the process of institutionalization. This delay is because of regional problems which are clogged at one point and not solved by politicians or offices of EU due to old-fashioned politicians and their ideas. For instance, 2 years ago I have met high-level EU officials in Bosnia Herzegovina and asked them how structural problems of BiH can be overcome.  My aim to ask these questions was to see “official” perspective and understand the size of the problems.  Unpredictably, they answered my question saying that “the future will show us what will happen, maybe the next generations is the only solution for the whole region.”

It proves that in the long-term, the office is necessary to improve youth mobility. But the main question should always be “what more could be done by the EU and the leaders of the Balkans?” First of all, those actors must invest in education; provide funding for innovative thinking, entrepreneurship, art and sports which are important for collectivity. Student and job exchange programs in the Balkan region, not only in EU countries, should be launched. At least six months working or studying period will provide greater results in preventing bilateral disputes in the region and foster regional cooperation. Furthermore, providing joint research projects will ensure overall development and democratic progress. For the historical, cultural and social problems, many scientific evidences can be found through these joint projects which will help to overcome stereotypes among individuals, nations and societies. Youth do not care about their political rights and they do not vote in elections. Voter turnout is really low in the region. For instance, people had gathered on the streets of Serbia after the recent election in Serbia, protesting against the government. Some protestors had been angry because many young people hadn't bothered to vote in the election. They did not take the responsibility in order to change or save the government. The focus on youth in decision-making process is supposed to be a priority in light of democratic transitions in the Balkans. Therefore, this Office is an opportunity for youth to engage in governance and participate in the political process. So, youth involvement in the political life can benefit the region. Responding to community needs will help them to become more empathetic. In addition, being open to political issues will cause the youth to learn local issues and it will encourage them in creating solutions that will have an impact on community.

Lastly, Turkey also has a potential to establish similar kind of youth offices. It gives hundreds of young people scholarships and supports many projects in the region. On the other hand, it can pay a particular attention to RYCO and contribute to their work because of the fact that Turkey and EU have common objectives on the role of the ''youth''. This will lead for a better region, neighborhood and future.